Step into adventure for a once in a lifetime expedition or trek. Life is too short not to explore. Our mountain adventures will leave you with cherished life-long memories. Following pioneers from the past, see how they survived and relive their adventures. Delve into local communities, their culture and traditions. Our treks are organised so as to benefit local communities. You can take part to challenge yourself or benefit a charity. Share your journey with like minded people, embracing nature and history along the way. Feel the adventure and feel the freedom.
We have a base in the Pyrenees and we have helped the Freedom Trail or Chemin de la Liberté be a reality for over 350 escapees since 2014 who have embraced and succedded on this tough challenge. We would love you to join us in 2022 though times have been challenging of late! We have departures starting in France and Spain.
We often move between France, Spain and Andorra but also in Europe. Our programmes are covid flexible so we can cross a border but not stay depending on the situation. Why not also try Andorra 3 Nations Trek (France, Spain, Andorra) climbing the highest peak en route or Sea to Summit on El Teide (3715m), Tenerife, Spains highest peak. The dolomites WW1 history with its tunnels and open air museums also inspires. These trips have a strong meaning for the people you will meet on the ground and as well as being a challenge. We can share stories and challenges of the escapees and local communities having researched the history and operations that made these journeys possible in depth. We can learn alot today from border communities and view parallels in post conflict society today. Cathar way and Carcassonne and Coastal Freedom trail are tamer trips or challenges for those who want to explore the regions culture in a more relaxed and luxurious maner.
We also offer cultural adventures or tougher expeditions to iconic peaks such as Toubkal and Aconcagua. We use expert guides specialised to each trip.
Snowy fun: From our Pyrenees base we are excited for French and Andorran Pyrenees snowshoeing, weekend to a full weeks plus Pyrenees winter fun & wellness/yoga in January, February and March.
Following Escape routes: In March and April we will take to the lower Alberes mountains to the East for the WW2 Coastal Freedom Trail and escape cols. Why not run or walk a section of the Cathar way or Cathar Explorer with us starting in Carcassonne follows the story and escapes of the Cathars and the Albigensian crusade in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Inspired to for a peak, fancy a challenge? Join us to summit on El Teide, Tenerife Sea to Summit (3715m), Mount Toubkal Long Weekend (4167m) Kalymnos round island trek 100km and it’s highest point or on a longer trip into the stunning Annapurna Sanctuary or Helambu Gosaikunda lakes, Nepal with the option to climb a 5,000m peak. Follow in the footsteps of Lawrance of Arabia in Wadi Rum Jordan and experience the highest mountain in Africa and some stunning wildlife on the Kilimanjaro Northern Route
Why we do it? We are really excited to show you beautiful places and support a good cause at the same time. Walking or running for a reason! Sharing history and culture, nature and ideas and the moment. You can do these with us as an individual, group or charity.
Climb Snowdon Sea to Summit & slate mines, Gritstone 9 edges challenge (1 day or long weekend), Dark Peak White peak challenge, Battle of Britain Memorial walk, Dover coastline, Yorkshire 3 peaks, climb UK, Cornish Coastal challenge, embrace marine life and cream tea!, the New forest 5km, 10km and half marathon trek fest weekend challenges and the Snowdonia 7 Summits. All 1-6 day trips and so if you would like to do just one day on any of these please ask! We have open events especially for charities and have helped many fundraisers with their ambitions. We are happy to be supporting the charity SANE on the cornish Coastal Challenge in October 21. Do sign up to help them.
Week, long weekend and day snowshoeing, pick and mix winter activity fun local to Ax les Thermes and Andorra. We love winter fun! What makes this region unique is you can also relax in thermal baths post walk and/or combine with skiing.
Our treks or walks can be geared to you if you are coming from Toulouse, Carcassonne, Bordeaux, Puigcerda, or Andorra la Vella for the day. We are only 1hr-1.5 hours away depending on your base. My mission is to help you fall in love with this fascinating border region. We are so close to both Spain and Andorra with a fine selection of mountain experiences, cultural adventures and historical escapes. We can also offer to the border treks to step into Spain or Andorra in a weekend or just for the day as wall as mountain refuge trips, historic Cathar castles or just into the wild.
If you are coming as a group we offer appartment accommodation at ChezArran.
We partner with Roam and Retreat for all wildlife adventures and historical explorer days.
Click here to find all our fabulous Pyrenees FreedomTrail Treks adventures! We have themed day or weekend walks too so you can pick challenge, relaxation or wildlife options in partnership with Roam and Retreat.
Follow in the footsteps of Lawrance of Arabia in Wadi Rum Jordan or circumvent a Greek island on foot and by boat for 100km on Kalymnos, go on the track of red pandas in Nepal. These are amazing choices from our favourite non European places to be!
“Just wanted to thank you for a wonderful time over the last week. You were a superb guide and I felt very safe in your hands. It was certainly a physical challenge for me and my caravan backpack but we all came through didn’t we? I’d have gladly parted with my bouncing bomb at any stage during the trek but Francis and the boys would never have let me forget it! ” Dr Mike
“My best part of the trip was the wonderful people in my group! Day 3 of the hike was incredible – the scenery, food, horses, wildlife, etc. The most inspirational was the realisation that would hit at various times
about the refugees who made the trip without the benefit of good food, good gear, etc. It was incredible to imagine.” Shelby Kerns
“Can’t thank you enough for everything you did to make our trek such a resounding success. As good as it gets!” Rowan Paterson, Director, The Ultimate Travel Company
7 peaks, 3 mountain ranges & 3000m of ascent! Are you ready for an epic mountain adventure embracing the jagged mountains of Snowdonia? Climbing 7 of Snowdonia’s most famous peaks, this journey will test your mettle on a tough 3-day…
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Discover the stunning New Forest National Park. Take to the trails, keeping an eye out for the abundance of local wildlife; ponies, donkeys, deer and pigs! Day 2 covers a half-marathon distance of 21km with a 10km option for those…
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Join us to commemorate the 80th +1 Anniversary of the Battle of Britain with a Memorial Trek along the English Coastal Path A challenging yet fascinating two day walk from Sandwich to the Battle of Britain Memorial Day 1: Arrivals…
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This Moroccan adventure sees us trekking through the dramatic landscape of the High Atlas Mountains, summiting Northern Africa's highest peak, Mt Toubkal at 4167m [gallery ids="8728,8809,8808,8729,8727"]
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St Ives and around the Lizard peninsular Enjoy a weekend walk to Britain’s most southerly Lizard point (40km), with the option to continue on turning the peninsula’s to finish in Coverack and sample some of the amazing swimming options in…
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The Cirque de Gavarnie is a UNESCO world heritage site and we will traverse between the Cirques of Troumousse, Estaubes and Gavarnie climbing at least one 3000m peak on the way. You can expect to see Ibex, vultures and stunningly…
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Cornish Coast around Britains most Southerly Point - St Ives, Praa sands, Porthleven and around the Lizard 3 days, 2 days walking, 2 nights accommodation Enjoy a weekend walk to Britain’s most southerly point, the Lizard. Sample some of the…
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"Powerful stories, beautifully told" A 5 day active adventure following in the footsteps of the young men and woman seeking freedom, and to continue the fight through escaping Nazi occupied Europe, by crossing the dramatic natural barrier of the Pyrenees…
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